I don’t even drink Coke because it might harm the baby… Pregnant women’s quarantine pass

As the government announced that it would continue to apply the quarantine pass (inoculation certificate, negative confirmation system) to pregnant women, public opinion against it is growing. Among pregnant women, there is criticism to the effect that “vaccination is too much of a burden when even a sip of coffee is insecure.”

Recently, the petition of the Blue House and online communities have been filled with complaints from pregnant women. According to the Corona 19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, as of December 9 last year, there were 2,087 pregnant women who completed the first vaccination and 1,175 pregnant women who completed the second vaccination. The primary inoculation rate is about 1.5%, and the secondary inoculation rate is only 0.84%. Many pregnant women are reluctant to get vaccinated for fear that it could negatively affect their fetus.

Person A, who filed a petition titled ‘Please ease the vaccine pass for pregnant women and mothers of young children,’ said, “The strong pressure to vaccinate those who are not vaccinated and the daily life restrictions of pregnant women and mothers of infants and toddlers are increasing day by day. It was getting worse, so I had to file a petition.”

He continued, “Pregnant women are too burdened to be vaccinated.” “Pregnant women give up even a sip of coffee or cold medicine because they want to cause even the slightest harm to the fetus. “Sometimes I go to places where there are few people on my own because I don’t want to overlap with people.”

“Parents of pregnant women and infants are more careful than anyone else because I am a confirmed patient and it will have a negative impact on our baby,” he said. I urge you to ease the vaccine pass for this.”

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Mr. B, who posted a petition titled ‘Please grant an exception to the quarantine pass for pregnant women,’ said, “Pregnant women should be careful with cold medicines, and if there are any side effects when receiving the vaccine during pregnancy, will there be any abnormalities in the baby even after 10 or 20 years? It is natural for parents to be worried,” he said.

He said, “Vaccine is a choice and should not be forced.” “Both those who are vaccinated and those who are not vaccinated are precious Korean citizens. In particular, pregnant women and fetuses are the protagonists of our future. I earnestly request that you acknowledge it.”

In the community related to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, complaints about the quarantine pass for pregnant women are pouring out. Netizen C, who is 24 weeks pregnant, posted a post titled ‘I’m frustrated with the quarantine pass for pregnant women’ and said, “I got the first vaccine and found out that I was pregnant, so I didn’t get the second. Is it the mother’s decision? I feel so bad.”

Netizen D said, “Of course, I thought pregnant women would be the exception to the quarantine pass, but it wasn’t.” At the entrance of the restaurant today, I proudly said that I was pregnant, but they said that they would not be allowed to enter unless they were vaccinated. Are you telling me to get married. I’m not going out until I give birth.”

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There are also criticisms from the opposition that the application of the quarantine pass to pregnant women should be withdrawn. On the 19th, Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate for People’s Power, said, “A mother thinks of her child because she can’t take a cold medicine properly because she fears that even one may cause a problem with the health of the fetus.” “The quarantine authorities are recommending that pregnant women vaccinate, and the government makes almost no exceptions to the uniform application of the quarantine pass,” he said.

He continued, “We ask the government not to discriminate against or provide disadvantages to pregnant women because they have not been vaccinated. The future of the country is bleak due to the extremely low fertility.” It is the role of the state to properly understand,” he added.

Rep. Bae Hyun-jin, from People’s Power, has proposed an amendment to the ‘Act on the Prevention and Management of Infectious Diseases’, which prohibits forcing pregnant women to vaccinate against COVID-19.

Assemblyman Bae said, “The reality is that most pregnant women are careful with cold medicine because they are afraid of even a small problem with the fetus in their stomach. action,” he said.

He also emphasized, “Accepting the criticism from experts who are concerned about possible side effects in the quarantine authorities, there should be no more forcing pregnant women to vaccinate through a vaccine pass.”

Son Young-rae, head of the social strategy division at the Central Accident Management Headquarters. / Photo = Yonhap News

The quarantine authorities reiterated the need for vaccination, citing the fact that pregnant women have a high rate of infection with COVID-19.

Son Yeong-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Accident Resolving Headquarters, said on the 20th, “There was a study in the United States that, compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women with COVID-19 had three times the intensive care unit admission, 2.9 times more ventilator treatment, and 1.7 times the mortality rate compared to non-pregnant women.” said

He continued, “Research on the side effects of vaccination for pregnant women is being conducted carefully not only in Korea but also in countries around the world. It is being confirmed that this is not the case,” he added.

He emphasized that “pregnant women are recommended for essential vaccinations, and we have not been able to confirm any country in the world that does not recommend vaccination for pregnant women.”

Hong Min-seong, reporter at Hankyung.com mshong@hankyung.com